It's amazing in the world of sport, how one person can interpret a sporting encounter in a completely different manner to another. The classic example is the opposing football manager scenario. Manager 1: "It was definitely a penalty". Manager 2: "It was a disgraceful decision from the ref. Never a penalty".
I found myself in a similar scenario this evening, except this time the sport in question was tennis. After watching Andy Murray's 6-4, 6-1, victory over David Nalbandian in the Cincinnati Masters, the Sky TV commentators in the UK seemed convinced that this was a commanding victory by Murray which he would be absolutely delighted with. Yes the final result would suggest this was a walk in the park for Murray, the world's fourth best tennis player. Yet the match i saw today, displayed classic characteristics of an Andy Murray match. Characteristics of Murray's game that continue to plague his tennis career and potentially may halt his quest to become a Grand Slam Champion and ultimately the World's Best Tennis player.
A worrying feature in Andy Murray's play the past two years is his failure to defeat opponents in the first round he plays in certain tournaments. Let's face it no one is infallible. Rafa found out the hard way last week in Montreal. Murray can be the slowest of starters though and can give his opponent a two/three game lead before he even gets out of the blocks. As he has found to his cost though, some players can take advantage of this gift, the likes of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer for three. Murray got off to an extremely slow start against Nalbandian today, losing his first service game, and failing to convert several break points in Nalbandian's first service game. As it so happens today, Murray was facing a good, bad and damn right ridiculously bad performance from Nalbandian. Nalbandian today looked like he wouldn't have much success serving a football within the service lines let alone a tennis ball. The point is Murray got away with the slow start today and avoided a first round defeat. You do worry for Murray though, and cannot help but feel he has to cut these "unnecessary" losses out of his game to reach to very top of the game.
Nalbandian, when he was good, also highlighted another concern in Murray's habit of being dictated to in tennis matches. Often Nalbandian took command of points, particularly in the first set, leaving Murray on the back foot, ten feet behind the base line, with no answer. This unfortunately has been a narrative in several of Murray's matches against the top three and it is so infuriating! We all know Murray has the tools in the box to dictate a match. Remember how he reached his first Grand Slam beating Nadal in the US Open semi-final? The trouble is he often leaves the tool box in the locker room. It makes you wonder, does he need a full-time coach who can instill the need to impose his game in a match? Or is it simply a mental fraility?
I remember John McEnroe making a comment after Murray's defeat to Nadal in this year's Wimbledon semi-final about Murray's body language and how the crowd to a degree feeds off the energy displayed by him be it positive or negative. Interestingly enough, the Sky Commentators were very impressed by Murray's composure during the match against Nalbandian today. To me Murray's body language for 60 % of the match suggested he needed an atom bomb up his backside. I would suggest his demeanour during the match was of a man who lacked energy and was there for the taking to a Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer if they were standing the other side of the net. If you look at a Nadal however, he could be having the worst day of his life as he walks on court, but you would never have thought it as he sprints to the service line to warm up. Is this another one those mental frailities as far as Murray is concerned. Quite possibly. You get the feeling Murray's chances of reaching the very top would be assisted if he learnt to channel positive energy whatever the situation in a match. With a Wimbledon crowd feeding off that energy, just imagine what a fabulous off court doubles partner they could be for Murray.
And this is basically why i think Murray remains probably the Fourth Best Player in the World.
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